By Rabia Ali
ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Monday with, including the rising death toll of Palestinians in the ongoing Gaza conflict, victory of a far-right libertarian in Argentina’s presidential runoff elections, the capture of an Israeli ship by Houthi group in Red Sea, and Qatar believing that a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas is imminent.
TOP STORIES
- Palestinian death toll in Gaza Strip rises to 13,000
The death toll in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has reached 13,000, including over 5,500 children and 3,500 women, the media office in the besieged enclave said Sunday.
The number of injuries has exceeded 30,000, with more than 75% of them being children and women, it said in a statement.
The administration said the number of missing persons crossed 6,000, with most of them suspected of lying under the rubble of the fallen buildings.
- Libertarian outsider Javier Milei wins Argentina's presidential runoff
Javier Milei, a far-right libertarian who burst onto Argentina´s political scene with eccentric and radical proposals, beat Economy Minister Sergio Massa in Sunday´s runoff elections.
With 95% of the votes counted, Milei has secured nearly 56% compared to Massa’s 44%.
Milei, who has been compared to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and former US President Donald Trump, rocked Argentina's politics after winning the most votes in the presidential primary in August.
- Yemen’s Houthi group says it seized Israeli ship in Red Sea
Yemen’s Houthi group announced Sunday that it “captured an Israeli ship” in the Red Sea and had taken it to the Yemeni coast, military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement.
Saree did not disclose further details about the ship or its crew, warning all ships belonging to Israel or dealing with it would become a “legitimate target” for the group’s forces.
Earlier, Israel confirmed that Houthis hijacked an international cargo ship in the Red Sea but claimed that no Israelis were on board.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in a statement said that "Israel strongly condemns the Iranian attack against an international vessel."
- Hostage exchange deal between Israel, Hamas ‘imminent’: Qatari premier
Qatar said Sunday that a hostage exchange deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas is “imminent.”
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani made the statement during a joint press conference with European foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in the capital Doha, Qatar News Agency reported.
Al-Thani pointed out that there are “minor challenges within the negotiations (that are) logistical and operational rather than substantive, and they can be overcome.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Around 31 premature babies were evacuated by the Palestine Red Crescent Society on Sunday from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, and transported by ambulances to the south in preparation for their transfer to Emirates Hospital in Rafah.
- The Israeli army announced on Sunday that two more of its soldiers were killed and another four injured with serious wounds during ground battles in the Gaza Strip.
- The Israeli army targeted the Lebanese town of Kafr Kila with phosphorus shelling on Sunday in its most intense attack since Oct. 8, according to Lebanese media.
- The Israeli army detained three women and two journalists among 70 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, a local NGO said Sunday after the Israeli forces conducted raids in various areas.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday expressed deep concern over Israel’s attacks on two UN-run schools in Gaza in the last 24 hours, stressing the inviolability of UN facilities.
- Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a "crazy man" who is "killing many people" in Gaza in the style of Herod, the Judea king who ordered slaughter of innocents according to the Christian New Testament.
- Around 87 people comprising citizens of Türkiye and TRNC and their relatives have reached Egypt after passing through the Rafah border crossing, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said Sunday.
- Reports by Israeli media that an Israeli combat helicopter opened fire on attendees of the Nova music festival on Oct. 7 ‘confirm that Israel fabricated lies to justify genocide and displacement from Gaza,’ Hamas said Sunday.
- The Palestine Mission in the UK expressed deep concern and frustration on Sunday over a recent surge in attacks on its London-based building, accusing the British government of neglecting repeated requests for diplomatic protection.
SPORTS
- Australia beat India to clinch men's Cricket World Cup
Australia on Sunday won the men's Cricket World Cup final, beating host India in the match played in Ahmedabad, the capital city of the western Indian state of Gujarat.
With this win, Australia extended their dominance in 50-over cricket, clinching their sixth World Cup trophy.
Chasing 241 runs, Travis Head hit a brilliant 137 runs, and Marnus Labuschagne's half-century helped Australia win by six wickets.
- Serbia draw with Bulgaria but reach EURO 2024 finals
Serbia sealed a UEFA EURO 2024 berth despite a 2-2 home draw with Bulgaria in a Group G match on Sunday.
Serbia's Milos Veljkovic scored the opening goal via header.
Bulgaria came back in the second half after Georgi Rusev and Kiril Despodov's goals. Srdan Babic, however, scored a header in the 82nd minute to take the score 2-2.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
- ChatGPT maker OpenAI sacks CEO Sam Altman
US-based artificial intelligence (AI) research company OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman will step down from his role, the company announced last week in a blog post.
The firm's board of directors said Altman "was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities."
"The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI," it added.